Emotion script generating, experiencing, and emotion interaction

ABSTRACT

An emotion script generating method includes receiving a user&#39;s emotion data, and generating emotion script using the emotion data based on a predefined template.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of and claimed priority under35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/302,899, filed Nov. 22,2011, entitled “EMOTION SCRIPT GENERATING, EXPERIENCING, AND EMOTIONINTERACTION,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

U.S. application Ser. No. 13/302,899 is a continuation-in-part, andclaims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a), of Chinese Application No.201010580301.8, filed Nov. 30, 2010. This application is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

As the Internet technologies develop, people increasingly exchangeinformation through the Internet, such as instant messaging, email,blog, bulletin board system (BBS), and video/voice conversation, amongothers. While information is exchanged through the Internet, exchangingemotion via the Internet has become increasingly desirable. In currentcommunication through the Internet, a user may use some simple symbols,icons or pictures to express his or her mood to other users. Forexample, “:-)” may express “joy” and “:(” may express “sadness.” Otherexamples may exist.

SUMMARY

The present specification provides an emotion script generating methodand apparatus, an emotion script experiencing method and apparatus, aswell as an emotion interaction system.

According to a first aspect of the present specification, there isprovided an emotion script generating method, which may comprisereceiving emotion data, wherein the emotion data are obtained accordingto measurable physiological parameters reflective of a user's emotions,and generating emotion script using the emotion data based on apredefined template.

According to a second aspect of the present specification, there isprovided an emotion script generating apparatus, which may comprisemeans to receive emotion data, wherein the emotion data is obtainedaccording to measurable physiological parameters reflective of a user'semotions, and means to generate emotion script using the emotion databased on a predefined template.

According to a third aspect of the present specification, there isprovided an emotion script experiencing method comprising receivingemotion script, wherein the emotion script is generated using emotiondata and based on a predefined template, the emotion data capable ofbeing obtained according to measurable physiological parametersreflective of a user's emotions; and actuating a user by using emotiondata extracted from the emotion script, so as to cause the user toexperience the emotion script.

According to a fourth aspect of the present specification, there isprovided an emotion script experiencing apparatus comprising means toreceive emotion script, wherein the emotion script is generated usingemotion data and based on a predefined template, the emotion datacapable of being obtained according to measurable physiologicalparameters reflective of a user's emotions; and actuating means toactuate a user by using emotion data extracted from the emotion script,so as to cause the user to experience the emotion script.

According to a fifth aspect of the present specification, there isprovided an emotion interaction system, which may comprise an emotionscript generating apparatus according to the second aspect of thepresent specification, and an emotion script experiencing apparatusaccording to the fourth aspect of the present specification.

By using the methods, apparatuses, and system of the presentspecification, emotion script can be generated from emotion dataconveniently, rapidly and effectively, and services are provided tousers by using the generated emotion script, so that user experience isimproved.

Other features and advantages of the present specification will becomeapparent from the following description of the examples describingprinciples of the present specification and with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various examples of the principlesdescribed herein and are a part of the specification. The illustratedexamples do not limit the scope of the claims.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an emotion script generating method accordingto one example of principles described herein;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an emotion script generating method accordingto another example of principles described herein;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of adjusting emotion data according to oneexample of principles described herein;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an emotion script generating apparatusaccording to one example of principles described herein;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an emotion script experiencing method accordingto one example of principles described herein;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an emotion script experiencing apparatusaccording to one example of principles described herein;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an emotion interaction system according toan one example of principles described herein; and

FIG. 8 is a structural block diagram of a computer system forimplementing the emotion script generating method according to oneexample of principles described herein.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar,but not necessarily identical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Since human emotions are extremely complex, it is difficult toinclusively express various kinds of human emotions by simply using theabove mentioned symbols, icons or pictures. In addition, existingmethods can express certain basic emotions but cannot make quantitativeadjustments to expressed emotions or express relatively complexemotions. That is, the expressing capability of the existing methods islimited. Further, existing methods fail to bring directly from one userto other users an emotional actuation to experience, thereby limitingthe other users' experience of this user's emotions.

In the following, specific examples of the present application will beexplained and described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings. The descriptions of the various examples of thepresent specification have been presented for purposes of illustration,but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the examplesdisclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof the described examples. The terminology used herein was chosen tobest explain the principles of the examples, the practical applicationor technical advantages over technologies found in the marketplace, orto enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the examplesdisclosed herein.

Certain technical terms used in the present application may first beexplained. In the present specification and in the appended claims theterm “emotion data” is meant to be understood broadly as any datarepresenting any emotion generated by a user. For example, when a useraccesses certain content, he or she might generate a correspondingemotion according to the content, such as the user's active emotion.Some examples may include an emotion generated when the user is chattingwith a friend, writing an email to his or her distant family or browsingan Internet page.

The emotion data may be obtained according to a number of measureablephysiological parameters reflective of the user's emotions. The contentmay be all or part of a picture, text, video or audio. Emotion data mayinclude unprocessed physiological and action signals such as a heartrate, a breath rate, a blood pressure, electroencephalogram parameters,a body temperature, and cutaneogalvanic reaction among others. Theseunprocessed physiological and action signals may also be referred to asphysiological parameters. Different physiological parameters areassociated with different emotion categories such as “like,” “dislike,”“afraid,” and “joy.” When a user accesses different content, forexample, when he or she views video of dangerous accidents or beautifulscenery images or hears shrilling screams, he or she might generatedifferent emotions so that the user's physiological parameters will havechanged accordingly.

Emotion data can further include values calculated by a certain featureextracting method by using the physiological parameters, wherein thefeature extracting method can for example relate to calculating adifference in heart rates in two consecutive minutes, that is, a firstderivative of heart rate.

A user's emotion data can be a vector whose elements can be a number ofphysiological parameters including a heart rate, a breath rate, bloodpressure, electroencephalogram parameters, body temperature, andcutaneogalvanic reaction, among others. A plurality of users' emotiondata can constitute a matrix, each row or column of which corresponds toa user's emotion data.

In the present specification and in the appended claims the term“emotion script” is meant to be understood broadly as any expression ofemotion-related information of a user. In one example, emotion scriptmay be used for expressing emotion-related information of a user, suchas emotion categories, emotion data acquisition manners, and userphysiological parameters, among others. Reference may be made tohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valence_(psychology) for further definitionof emotion script.

Emotion script can be expressed in an Emotion Markup Language (refer tohttp://www.w3.org/2005/Incubator/emotion/XGR-emotionml-20081120/)proposed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C®) Emotion Markup LanguageIncubator Group or any other proper language that is defined by thoseskilled in the art or users by themselves.

The present specification includes an emotion script generating methodand apparatus, an emotion script experiencing method and apparatus, aswell as an emotion interaction system. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate tworespective examples of the emotion script generating method according tothe present specification. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the emotionscript generating apparatus. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of theemotion script experiencing method. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of theemotion script experiencing apparatus. FIG. 7 illustrates an example ofthe emotion interaction system that may comprise the emotion scriptgenerating apparatus and the emotion script experiencing apparatusaccording to the present specification.

In an example of the present specification, emotion data can be receivedfirst, and emotion script is generated using the emotion data based on apredefined template. In the present specification, emotion data may beobtained according to measureable physiological parameters reflective ofa user's emotions. User physiological parameters may include, forexample, heart rate, breath rate, blood pressure, electroencephalogramparameters, body temperature, and/or cutaneogalvanic reaction, amongothers.

Reference emotion data can be used for determining whether the acquiredphysiological parameters are normal emotion data. For example, whetherthe physiological parameters are within a normal range may be determinedby calculating a difference between a user's reference emotion data andthe acquired user's physiological parameters. This may be done so as todetermine whether the physiological parameters can serve as emotion datafor generating emotion script.

When a range of values corresponding to each emotion is predetermined inadvance, the emotions corresponding to the emotion data can bedetermined by using the reference emotion data. For example, when adifference between the emotion data and the reference emotion data fallswithin a predetermined range of values of the emotion “joy”, the emotioncorresponding to the emotion data is “joy.” Similarly, when a differencebetween the emotion data and the reference emotion data falls within apredetermined range of values of the emotion “afraid”, the emotioncorresponding to the emotion data is “afraid”. Therefore, a user'sreference emotion data may be used to determine what emotion the user isfeeling when generating emotion data.

In another example, the user's reference emotion data may be receivedand the reference emotion data may be determined based uponphysiological parameters of a number of users in, for example, a calmstate. The reference emotion data can be emotion data generated by theuser with respect to designated content upon registration, an average ofemotion data generated when the user accesses a series of ordinarycontent in different periods of time, or results obtained by using othermore complicated methods.

Then it may be determined if the user's emotion data currently receivedare within a normal range. This may be determined based upon the user'sreference emotion data. If the user's received emotion data is within anormal range, the emotion data may be used for generating emotionscript. If the user's received emotion data is not within a normalrange, the emotion data will not be used for generating emotion script.For example, a difference between the currently acquired user's emotiondata and the user's reference emotion data may be calculated and adetermination may be made as whether the average is within a normalrange. Alternatively, a percentage of the difference relative to thereference value may be calculated, an average can be calculated from thepercentage. It may then be determined if the average is within a normalrange. The normal range can be determined according to medical criteria,for example, the normal range of a user's heart rate may fall betweenzero and a predetermined maximum as defined by medical science.Additionally, the normal range of a user's heart rate may be within anumerical range not consisting of a negative value or too high of avalue.

In addition, in one example, when a range of values corresponding toeach emotion is preset, it can also be determined what emotion a usergenerating the currently received emotion data is presently feeling.This determination may be based upon reference emotion data.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an emotion script generating methodaccording to one example of principles described herein. According tothe method, emotion data may be received (block 101) and the emotionscript may be generated (block 102) using the emotion data. Thegeneration (block 102) of the emotion script may be based on apredefined template. The emotion data received (block 101) may beobtained according to measureable physiological parameters reflective ofa user's emotions. Additionally, as described above, the emotion datamay be received using various methods.

In one example, the emotion data is received (block 101) by obtaininguser physiological parameters acquired by a physiological parametersensor or a biological signal detector. In one example, before theemotion data is received (block 101), physiological parameters generatedby a user may be sensed at a user terminal. The user terminal may thenobtain emotion data according to the sensed physiological parameters andprovide the obtained emotion data to the emotion script generatingapparatus, so that the emotion script generating apparatus can receive(block 101) the emotion data.

In the example where the user physiological parameters are received(block 101) by a physiological parameter sensor or a biological signaldetector, the physiological parameter sensor or the biological signaldetector may be arranged near or at a client's location. For example,the physiological parameter sensor or a biological signal detector maybe placed nearby a user terminal. In another example, a wearable sensormay be worn by a user so as to sense the physiological parametersgenerated by the user.

After the physiological parameters generated by the user are sensed, adifference between the user's pre-acquired reference emotion data andthe user's currently sensed physiological parameters may be calculatedand it may then be determined if the physiological parameters are withina normal range. Those physiological parameters within the normal rangemay then be treated as emotion data.

For example, if a user were to wear a sensor capable of sensingphysiological parameters and such as heart rate and blood pressure whilethat user is chatting with a friend through a network, the emotiongenerated by the user may be, for example, determined as “joy.” It ispossible, therefore, to obtain the user's emotion data (82, 120, 90, 5)by the sensor worn by the user wherein the elements correspond to theuser's heart rate, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and breathrate, respectively. These physiological parameters may then be received(block 101) as emotion data.

In another example, the emotion data may be received via a userinputting physiological parameters from an emotion data input interface.This example will be described below in connection with reference toFIG. 2.

Additionally, the emotion script may be generated (block 102) using theemotion data based on a predefined template. In the presentspecification, the predefined template may be a general-purpose templateor a customized template, whose configurations may comprise emotioncategories, emotion data acquisition manners, and user physiologicalparameters, among others. By using emotion data to embody theconfigurations of the predefined template, it is possible to obtainvarious emotion scripts and information related to various emotions of auser may be described. The predefined template may be formulated basedon an Emotion Markup Language.

In one example, emotion categories may consist of the eight emotiontypes proposed by Robert Plutchik, including joy, sadness, trust,disgust, fear, anger, surprise, and anticipation (refer tohttp://www.fractal.org/Bewustzijns-Besturings-Model/Nature-of-emotions.htm),or may be other predefined emotion-related types.

While generating (block 102) emotion script using the emotion data basedon a predefined template, configurations of the predefined template maybe determined and the emotion data may be added to the predefinedtemplate according to the configurations. Specifically, when a userlearns of a serious accident when chatting with a friend, at this pointthe user's emotion may be “fear.” The user's emotion data may be sensedby a sensor being worn by the user and the emotion data may berepresented as (80, 100, 70). These elements may, for example,correspond to the user's heart rate, systolic pressure, and diastolicpressure respectively.

The configurations of the predefined template may then be determined.If, in this example, configurations of the predefined template compriseemotion categories, emotion data acquisition manners, and userphysiological parameters, the emotion category in the predefinedtemplate may be recorded as, for example, “fear.” Additionally, theemotion data acquisition manner may be recorded as, for example, “sensedby a sensor.” Further, the heart rate may be recorded as “80,” thesystolic pressure may be recorded as “100,” and the diastolic pressuremay be recorded as “70.” In this way, emotion script for the emotion“fear” may be generated according to the predefined template. Likewise,emotion script for other emotion types may be similarly generatedaccording to the predefined template.

In one example, by using the emotion script generating method of thepresent specification the emotion script may be adjusted. In oneexample, the emotion script may be adjusted according to the predefinedtemplate. For example, each attribute of emotion script is obtainedaccording to configurations of the predefined template and then theseattributes may be changed as desired.

In another example, after emotion script is generated (block 102), theemotion script can be provided to the user so that the user canexperience an emotion corresponding to the emotion script and adjust theemotion script as desired. Afterwards, the emotion script that wasadjusted by the user may be received by the user or another user. Incase of dissatisfaction, the user may further adjust and experience theemotion script until he or she obtains a desired emotion to beexperienced by other users. In this way, when other users are providedwith the emotion script, they may experience the emotion which the userwants them to experience.

Alternatively, by using the emotion script generating method of thepresent specification it is further possible to provide the emotionscript to another user so that he or she may experience an emotioncorresponding to the provided emotion script. The user can be affect orinfluenced in various manners so that the user may experience theemotion script. For example, the emotion script may be converted intoaudio signals which are then played by a notebook computer, a mobilephone, or a PDA so that the user experiences the emotion script bylistening to the music. In another example, the emotion script may beprovided to a lighting control system which converts the emotion scriptinto optical signals so as to enable the user to experience the emotionscript through changes of lighting around the user. In yet anotherexample, a mouse may be provided with a weak current stimulus meanswhich converts the emotion script into weak current signals therebyenabling the user to experience the emotion script through weak currentsignal stimulus sent by the mouse when the user's hand grips the mouse.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an emotion script generating method accordingto another example of the principles described herein. The method maybegin with receiving (block 201) the user physiological parameter inputfrom an emotion data input interface.

In the emotion script generating method of the present specification,the emotion data may be received in various manners. In one example, itis possible to receive user physiological parameters acquired by aphysiological parameter sensor or a biological signal detector. Forpurpose in simplicity of illustration, however, the present method willbe described in term of receiving (block 201) user physiologicalparameters input from an emotion data input interface.

Different types of emotion data input interfaces may be provided to theuser. In one example, a text box may be provided in order to receivefrom the user values of physiological parameters, such as heart rate,diastolic pressure, systolic pressure and breath rate as input. Inanother example, a slide block may be provided such that a user candetermine values of physiological parameters by dragging the slideblock. In yet another example, a dropdown input box may be provided suchthat the user can select values of physiological parameters from adropdown box.

The user may define a value for each physiological parameter as desired.In this example, if the user physiological parameters received from theemotion data input interface are (75, 110, 80, 10) then the elementsrespectively correspond to the user's physiological parameters such asheart rate, diastolic pressure, systolic pressure, and breath rate,among others.

After the user physiological parameter input is received (block 201)from, an emotion data input interface, configurations of the predefinedtemplate may be determined (block 202). In the present specification,the predefined template may be a general-purpose template or acustomized template, whose configurations may comprise emotioncategories, emotion data acquisition manners, and user physiologicalparameters, among others. By using emotion data to embody theconfigurations of the predefined template, it is possible to obtainvarious emotion scripts thereby scripting information related toemotions of a user.

In this example, it may be determined (block 202) that configurations ofthe predefined template comprises emotion categories, emotion dataacquisition manners, heart rate, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure,and breath rate, among others. An example of the predefined template isshown below in which content inside double quotation marks can bechanged. For example, the content may be updated using values of emotiondata, so that different emotion script is obtained.

<emotemplate> <emotion> <category set=“basicEmotions” name=“joy” /><!-category indicates an emotion category--> <dimensionsset=“valenceArousal”><!-dimensions indicates that an emotion may bescripted from several dimensions, dimensions set= “valenceArousal”indicates that an emotion is scripted from psychological valence andarousal--> <arousal value=“0.35” /> <valence value=“0.85’ /></dimensions> <intensity value=“0.8” /><!-intensity value representsintensity of an emotion--> <modality set=“basicModalities” mode=“facevoice body” medium=“physio” /> <!-modality indicates acquisition mannerof emotion data −> <metadata>  <physio:bvpSystolic value=“82” /> <physio:bvpDiaStolic value=“125” />  <physio:heartRate value=“90” /></metadata> <!-metadata indicates user physiological parameters−></emotion> </emotemplate>

In one example, each configuration of the predefined template may have adefault value. The default value may be selected from common values orpreset values of the configuration at which point the predefinedtemplate is emotion script in itself. In another example, eachconfiguration of the predefined template may have no value, i.e., set to“NULL” and, when emotion data is received, the respective configurationsare filled with received parameters.

The emotion data may then be added (block 203) to the predefinedtemplate according to configurations of the predefined template. Becausethe user's physiological parameters received (block 201) from theemotion data input interface are set at (75, 110, 80, 10) andconfigurations of the predefined template as determined (block 202)comprise emotion categories, emotion data acquisition manners, heartrate, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and breath rate, amongothers, the user's physiological parameters may be populated into acorresponding location of the predefined defined one by one, accordingto configurations of the predefined template.

Below is shown an example of emotion script whose emotion category is“joy,” in which the emotion data acquisition manner is that a sensorsenses physiological parameters in which, for example, the heart rate is75 beats per minute, the systolic pressure is 110 mmHg the diastolicpressure is 85 mmHg, and the breath rate is 10 breathes/minute.

<emotion> <category set=“basicEmotions” name= “joy” /> <!-categoryindicates an emotion category, “basicEmotions” is the set of eightemotion types proposed by Robert Plutchik, name= “joy” indicates thatthe current emotion category is “joy”--> <modality set=“basicModalities”mode=“face voice body” medium=“ visual acoustic physio” /> <!-modalityindicates where emotion data are obtained, basicModalities indicates abasic manner for emotion data acquisition mode= “face voice body”indicates that emotion data are obtained from the face, voice, and body,medium= “ visual acoustic physio ” indicates that the medium acquiringemotion data is a visual or acoustic sensor--> <intensity value=“0.8” /><!-indicates that the intensity of joy is 0.8, which ranges between 0and 1.0 and which can be obtained using an emotion classification method--> <metadata> <!-meatadata indicates metadata, which comprise variousphysiological parameters>  <physio:bvpSystolic value=“110” /> <!-thesystolic pressure is 125 mmHg -->  <physio:bvpDiaStolic value=“80” /><!-the diastolic pressure is 90 mmHg -->  <physio:heartRate value=“75”/> <!-the heart rate is 82 beats/minute--> <physio:breathRate value=“10”/> <!-the breath rate is 10 breathes/minute --> </metadata> </emotion>

Below is shown another example of an emotion script whose emotioncategory is “anger.” In this example, user physiological parameters are(90, 130, 92, 15), wherein the emotion data was acquired using anemotion data input interface that acquires physiological parameters. Inthis example, the heart rate is 90 beats per minute, the systolicpressure is 130 mmHg the diastolic pressure is 92 mmHg, and the breathrate is 15 breathes/minute.

 <emotion>  <category set=”basicEmotions” name=”anger” />  <modalityset=”basicModalities” mode=”face voice body” medium=” visual acousticphysio” /> <intensity value=”0.8” /> <metadata>  <physio:bvpSystolicvalue=”130” />  <physio:bvpDiaStolic value=”90”/> <physio:heartRatevalue=”92” /> <physio:breathRate value=”15” /> </metadata>  </emotion>

After the emotion data is added (block 203) to the predefined templateaccording to the configurations of the predefined template, the emotionscript may be provided (block 204) to the user. The emotion script maybe provided (block 204) to the user via an emotion data adjustmentinterface according to an example of the present specification and asillustrated in FIG. 3. Specifically, an example of the emotion category“joy” is shown in the interface of FIG. 3 wherein the emotion data maycomprise a heart rate, a diastolic pressure, a systolic pressure, and abreath rate. During display, values of a heart rate, a diastolicpressure, a systolic pressure, and a breath rate are normalized in orderto facilitate use by the user. Although the physiological parameterssuch as heart rate, diastolic pressure, systolic pressure, and breathrate as shown in the emotion data input interface in FIG. 3 rangebetween 0 and 10, those skilled in the art would readily appreciate thatother proper ranges of values may be used as ranges for describingvarious physiological parameters. The emotion script may be provided(block 204) to the using other methods. For example, a text box otherthan the slide block in FIG. 3 may be provided in order to displayvalues of physiological parameters such as heart rate, diastolicpressure, systolic pressure, and breath rate.

Once the emotion script is provided (block 204) to the user, the emotionscript as adjusted by the user is received (block 205). The user mayadjust these physiological parameters by using a mouse to drag the slideblocks of heart rate, diastolic pressure, systolic pressure, and breathrate as shown in FIG. 3, thereby obtaining the updated emotion data.

If, when the emotion script is provided (block 204) to the user, a textbox is provided to display values of physiological parameters such asheart rate, diastolic pressure, systolic pressure, and breath rate, thenthe latest values inputted by the user into the text box are provided(block 204) to the user to adjust these physiological parameters, so theupdated emotion data is obtained. Afterwards, the original emotion datain the data script may be replaced with the updated emotion dataaccording to the predefined template, and thus the emotion scriptadjusted by the user may be obtained.

In one example, the procedures of adjusting the emotion script asdescribed in connection with blocks 204 and 205 may be completed.However, in another example, if the emotion script is not to beadjusted, the generated emotion script can be directly used as theemotion script generated by the emotion script generating method of thepresent specification.

Once the emotion script adjusted by the user is received (block 205),the emotion script may be provided (block 206) to another user so thathe or she can experience an emotion corresponding to the emotion script.The other user may be affected or influenced in various manners so as toexperience the emotion script. For example, the emotion script may beconverted into audio signals which are then played by a notebookcomputer, a mobile phone or a PDA so that the user experiences theemotion script by listening to the music. In another example, theemotion script may be provided to a lighting control system which mayconvert the emotion script into optical signals so as to enable the userto experience the emotion script through changes of lighting around theuser. In yet another example, a mouse may be provided with a weakcurrent stimulus means which converts the emotion script into weakcurrent signals thereby enabling the user to experience the emotionscript through weak current signal stimulus sent by the mouse when theuser's hand grips the mouse.

In one example, the emotion script is not provided (block 206) to otherusers. If, however, as shown in FIG. 2 the emotion script is provided toother users, the emotion script generated when the emotion data is added(block 203) to the predefined template or the adjusted (block 204, 205)emotion data is directly used as the emotion script generated by theemotion script generating method of the present specification.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an emotion script generating apparatusaccording to an example of principles described herein. An emotionscript generating apparatus (400) may comprise means (410) to receiveemotion data, wherein the emotion data is obtained according tomeasurable physiological parameters reflective of a user's emotions. Theemotion script generating apparatus (400) may further comprise means(420) to generate emotion script using the emotion data based on apredefined template.

In one example, the means (410) to receive emotion data may comprisemeans to receive user physiological parameters acquired by aphysiological parameter sensor or a biological signal detector. In oneexample, the means to receive user physiological parameters may comprisea physiological parameter sensor or a biological signal detector. Inanother example, the means (410) to receive emotion data may comprisemeans to receive user physiological parameters input from an emotiondata input interface.

In one example, the means (420) to generate emotion script using theemotion data based on a predefined template may comprise means todetermine configurations of the predefined template and means to add theemotion data to the predefined template according to the configurationsof the predefined template as described above in connection with FIG. 1.

In one example, the apparatus (400) may also comprise means (430) toadjust the emotion script according to the predefined template. Inanother example, the apparatus (400) may also comprise means (430) toadjust the emotion script, which comprises means to provide the emotionscript to the user so that the user can experience an emotioncorresponding to the emotion script and adjust the emotion script asneeded and means to receive the emotion script adjusted by the user. Inone example, the apparatus (400) may comprise means (440) to provide theemotion script to other users so that other users can experience anemotion corresponding to the emotion script.

In the present specification, configurations of the predefined templatemay comprise emotion categories, emotion data acquisition manners, anduser physiological parameters, among others. The predefined template maybe formulated based on an Emotion Markup Language (EML). Additionally,in the present specification, user physiological parameters may comprisea heart rate, a breath rate, a blood pressure, electroencephalogramparameters, a body temperature, and a cutaneogalvanic reaction, amongothers.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an emotion script experiencing method accordingto one example of principles described herein. The method may begin whenthe emotion script is received (block 501). The emotion script may begenerated using emotion data based on a predefined template and theemotion data can be obtained according to measurable physiologicalparameters reflective of a user's emotions.

The emotion script to be received (block 501) may be received using anemotion script generating method similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1.The emotion script received (block 501) may come from, for example, theemotion script generating apparatus similar to that illustrated in FIG.4.

After the emotion script has been received (block 501), a user isinfluenced or otherwise affected through the use of the emotion dataextracted from the emotion script so that he or she can experience theemotion script. The user can be affected or influenced in variousmanners to experience the emotion script. For example, the emotionscript may be converted into audio signals which are then played by anotebook computer, a mobile phone or a PDA so that the user experiencesthe emotion script by listening to the music. In another example, theemotion script may be provided to a lighting control system whichconverts the emotion script into optical signals so as to enable theuser to experience the emotion script through changes of lighting aroundthe user. In yet another example, a mouse may be provided with a weakcurrent stimulus means which converts the emotion script into weakcurrent signals thereby enabling the user to experience the emotionscript through weak current signal stimulus sent by the mouse when theuser's hand grips the mouse.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an emotion script experiencing apparatusaccording to one example of principles described herein. An emotionscript experiencing apparatus (600) may comprise means (610) to receivean emotion script and means (620) to affect or influence the user. Themeans (610) to receive an emotion script receives emotion script whereinthe emotion script is generated using emotion data and may based on apredefined template. The emotion data is capable of being obtainedaccording to measurable physiological parameters reflective of a user'semotions. The means (620) to affect or influence the user may affect theuser using emotion data extracted from the emotion script so that theuser can experience the emotion script. As described above, theactuating means may comprise audio signals which are then played by anotebook computer, a mobile phone or a PDA to a user so that the usermay experience the emotion script by listening to the music. In anotherexample, the actuating means may be a lighting control system whichconverts the emotion script into optical signals so as to enable theuser to experience the emotion script through changes of lighting aroundthe user. In yet another example, the actuating means may comprise amouse that is provided with a weak current stimulus device whichconverts the emotion script into weak current signals thereby enablingthe user to experience the emotion script through weak current signalstimulus sent by the mouse when the user's hand grips the mouse.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an emotion interaction system (700)according to one example of principles described herein. The emotioninteraction system (700) may comprise an emotion script generatingapparatus (710) according to the present specification and an emotionscript experiencing apparatus (720) for causing other users toexperience emotion script from the emotion script generating apparatus(710).

In one example, the emotion script generating apparatus (710) may beimplemented as the apparatus (400) as shown and described in FIG. 4 orother specific types of an emotion script generating apparatus accordingto the present specification. In another example, the emotion scriptexperiencing apparatus (720) may be implemented as the apparatus (600)as shown and described in FIG. 6 or other specific types of an emotionscript experiencing apparatus according to the present specification.

In the emotion interaction system (700), the emotion script generatingapparatus (710) receives emotion data from a user (user 1) and generatesemotion script using the received emotion script based on a predefinedtemplate. Then, the emotion script is transmitted to the emotion scriptexperiencing apparatus (720) through a network or other medium. Theemotion script experiencing apparatus (720) may cause a user (user 2) tobe affected or influenced in various manners so as to cause the user(user 2) to experience the emotion script. For example, the emotionscript may be converted into audio signals which are then played by anotebook computer, a mobile phone or a PDA so that the user (user 2) mayexperience the emotion script by listening to the music. In anotherexample, the emotion script may be provided to a lighting control systemwhich converts the emotion script into optical signals so as to enablethe user (user 2) to experience the emotion script through changes oflighting around the user (user 2). In yet another example, a mouse maybe provided with a weak current stimulus means which converts theemotion script into weak current signals thereby enabling the user (user2) to experience the emotion script through weak current signal stimulussent by the mouse when a hand of the user (user 2) grips the mouse. Withthe emotion interaction system (700) of the present specification,different users can exchange feelings between them by using emotionscript so that user experience is improved significantly.

FIG. 8 is a structural block diagram of a computer system forimplementing the emotion script generating method according to oneexample of principles described herein. A computer system forimplementing the emotion script generating method may comprise a centralprocessing unit (CPU) (801), random access memory (RAM) (802), read onlymemory (ROM) (803), a system bus (804), a hard disk controller (805), akeyboard controller (806), a serial interface controller (807), aparallel interface controller (808), a display controller (809), a harddisk (810), a keyboard (811), a serial external device (812), a parallelexternal device (813) and a display (814). Among these components, theCPU (801), the RAM (802), the ROM (803), the hard disk controller (805),the keyboard controller (806), the serial interface controller (807),the parallel interface controller (808) and the display controller (809)may be connected to the system bus (804). Additionally, the hard disk(810) may be connected to the hard disk controller (805), the keyboard(811) may be connected to the keyboard controller (806), the serialexternal device (812) may be connected to the serial interfacecontroller (807), the parallel external device (813) may be connected tothe serial interface controller (808), and the display (814) may beconnected to the display controller (809).

In different examples, some components of the system described in FIG. 8may be added to the structure shown in FIG. 8. In other examples somecomponents shown in FIG. 8 may be omitted. The whole system shown inFIG. 8 may be controlled by computer readable instructions stored in thehard disk (810), in EPROM or other nonvolatile memories as software. Thesoftware can be downloaded from a network such as a local network, anintranet, or the internet. The software stored in the hard disk (810) ordownloaded from the network can be uploaded to RAM (802) and executed bythe CPU (801) to perform functions determined by the software.

Although the computer system as described in FIG. 8 can support theemotion script generating apparatus and the emotion script experiencingapparatus according to the present specification, it is merely oneexample of a computer system. Those skilled in the art would readilyappreciate that many other computer system designs can also be used torealize those examples of the present specification.

The present specification further relates to a computer program productwhich includes a computer readable storage medium having computeruseable program code for receiving emotion data, wherein the emotiondata is obtained according to measurable physiological parametersreflective of a user's emotions, and generating emotion script using theemotion data based on a predefined template. Before use, the programcode can be stored in memories of other computer systems, for example,stored in a hard disk or a removable memory such as a CD or a floppydisk, or downloaded via the Internet or other computer networks.

The methods as disclosed in the present specification can be implementedvia hardware or combination of software and hardware. The hardwareportion can be implemented by using dedicated logic and the softwareportion can be stored on a memory device and executed by an appropriateinstruction executing system such as a microprocessor, a personalcomputer (PC) or a mainframe computer.

The present specification has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the emotion script generating, experiencing, and interactionsystem and method in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Therefore, the examples were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the present system and method and itspractical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the artto understand that all modifications and alterations made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present specification fall into theprotection scope of the present system and method as defined in theappended claims.

1. An emotion script generating method, comprising: receiving a user'semotion data, and generating emotion script using the emotion data basedon a predefined template.
 2. The method of claim 1, in which the emotiondata is received according to measurable physiological parametersreflective of the user's emotions.
 3. The method of claim 1, in whichreceiving emotion data comprises: receiving user physiologicalparameters that are acquired by a physiological parameter sensor or abiological signal detector.
 4. The method of claim 1, in which receivingemotion data comprises: receiving the first user's physiologicalparameters that are input from an emotion data input interface.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, in which generating emotion script using the emotiondata based on a predefined template comprises: determiningconfigurations of the predefined template; and adding the emotion datato the predefined template according to the configurations of thepredefined template.
 6. The method of claim 1, in which the predefinedtemplate comprises emotion categories, emotion data acquisition manners,and user physiological parameters.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: adjusting the emotion script according to the predefinedtemplate.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing theemotion script to the user so that the user experiences an emotioncorresponding to the emotion script and adjusts the emotion scripts; andreceiving the emotion script adjusted by the user.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: providing the emotion script to other usersso that the other users experience an emotion corresponding to theemotion script.
 10. The method of claim 1, in which the predefinedtemplate is based on an Emotion Markup Language.